John Alexander Gumela

John Alexander Gumela, age 95 of Warren, died Monday, April 25, 2016 at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Macomb Center in Warren. He was born March 27, 1921 in Hamtramck, son of the late Peter and the late Katherine (nee: Borowicz) Gumela. With thanks and praise from a grateful nation, we pay homage to John for his service to our country during World War II as a soldier in the U.S. Army. Achieving his final rank on May 17, 1943 as Technician 5th Grade, John went on to serve another 6 months until receiving his honorable discharge on November 20, 1943.Following his military service, John set his sights on beginning a career and chose the automotive industry as the source from which he built a long and memorable association with the General Motors Corporation. Employed at the GM Technical Center in Warren, John was part of the team in the Metal Design department where he extended the utmost of his expertise and professionalism until accepting his well-deserved retirement following 34 years of dedicated service to the automotive giant.When he wasn't working, John found great enjoyment in traveling, both locally and to destinations afar. On those occasions when traveling meant something closer to home, there was no mistaking his love for those simple, Sunday drives. It didn't really matter where the car was headed,…just, simply, that it was heading somewhere. Of course, he was never adverse to driving trips that took him to places far from home either. If he was travelin', he was happy. Then at times, traveling meant giving over the reins to more of a professional,…like that of an Airline Pilot. Of all the places he had been, the two he seemed to rave about the most were the excursions he took to Hawaii and Las Vegas. Whether it was feeding his hunger for the smells and delights of a tropical getaway, or answering the call for more of the sensational escape to the Glitz & Glamour Capital of the World,…John's "Travelin' Jones" was often begun with great anticipation, and met with supreme satisfaction. Another pastime he thoroughly enjoyed was dancing. And being of Polish decent, it only made perfect sense that one of his favorites was the "Polka." When the music started and his "dancin' fever" took hold, nobody could kick up their heels and glide around the dance floor like John. He was smooth as silk,…and truly took Virginia on a wild ride for all to enjoy, especially themselves.Yet of all the things that John enjoyed, his greatest pleasures had nothing to do with things,…rather, his precious and cherished loved ones who made life worth living and with whom he created some warm and wonderful memories. It is they whom he leaves to treasure his memory and to reflect upon the many ways his heart and soul permeated their own. He will be missed immensely and loved eternally. John was the beloved husband of the late Virginia "Kelly" Gumela, and is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by siblings, Ann Trombetta, Mary Koss, and Alexander Gumela.Visitation for John will be held Sunday, May 1st from 3-9 pm, with a 7pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Rd. at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd.) in Warren. He will lie in state on Monday from 10:30 am until time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am at St. Blase Catholic Church in Sterling Heights. Entombment will follow his services at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan. Please share memories of John at his memory book above.